By Msg

By Phone

Bad Karma

Waited past seven other busses before mine arrived in the morning. Then in the evening waited 40mins. This can only happen if you just miss your bus, then the next scheduled one doesn't arrive. Gak.

French Alps

From Chamonix (Mont-Blanc) to Zermatt (Matterhorn), Rocky trekked 120 miles over 12 onerous days in what is know as the "Walkers' Haute Route". Finally at Zermatt his view from the summit was priceless.

Third Contact

Jess' Party

Great party. She has lots of interesting friends. Most in post-grad. Met Richard/Robert? and Coleen.

Spencer & Corin's baby was born

very early in the morning
very heave birth weight
~25 hours of labour

Houseboat Holidays

Morning Boat
Andy
Simon
Mike
Greg
Brent
Jeff

Evening Boat
Mark
Steve
Mark
Mike
Chris

Located two miles west of Gananoque on Highway No.2

www.gananoque.com/hhl/prices.html

Camped first night at Beaurivage Island. Boated out to Rockport. Camped second night at Mulcaster Island.

Thoma Bravo bids on Entrust

This morning's inbox had a big surprise. Entrust has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Thoma Bravo. 30 days for alternate bids, then we become a private company... My first acquisition. Ha.

Wasted Curry

Today I tried to make curry for dinner. It took an hour and a half. And it sucks.

Solstice

To celebrate the solstice we ran out to the middle of the park in the middle of an afternoon snowstorm. Also we had a special dinner of duck breast and sweet potato fries

Old Friends

Ran into Scott Hansen and Eric? from GW at Andy's birthday party.

CSE ECC Presentation

And we got bonuses at work. $2k ish for me. A good day

Moved Chris' TV

Very heavy. Dinged his wall. Bruce and Luzine helped. Then had burgers and beer. Yum. A good day. But tired.

Stolen Shoes

I haven't been to the gym for a couple of months. I went down to clean out my locker for the winter. All my stuff is gone.

To the guy who stole my shoes:
I hope your death is slow and painful.
I hope that in your last days of anguish, you think of me.

It turns out that they weren't stolen. Instead, someone had put a lock on my locker. Once cut, I got my stuff back.

Very Long Day At Work

Thirteen Hours. Solid. And still not done.

Family Photo

Finally picked up the family photo. It looks good. Also bought Dad some boots for his birthday. And helped him move around some junk in the yard. We all had a really nice day together.

Anniversary

After long weeks of moving, we finally took some time for our anniversary, this being the anniversary of the day we met. I bought Amanda a fashion watch: Kennith Cole - Reaction. And we went out to that Thai place in Westborough. And just spent the rest of the evening in our new home, together. It was nice.

CSE Demo

Helluva day.

Anniversary

A busy week.
21st was our anniversary by the weekday. Amanda's family was with us, I ran the armyrun, and we had dinner with Chris and Dan & Nathan.
22nd was our anniversary by the equinox. We made nanimo bars and watched persuasion.
23rd was our anniversary by the number. We went to lonestar and also celebrated Amanda's raise.
And I finally gave Amanda the Stratford earings.

Army Run

Place Overall: 189/3353
Place among men aged 20-29: 53/278
Place among men: 155/1617
Bib 7651
Time 21:37.8
Pace 4:26

armyrun.ca

http://www.sportstats.ca/display-results.php?racecode=43194&first=MICHAEL&last=HOLTSTROM&city=Kanata

Long Day

Worked a long day. Got home around seven. Amanda too. Made some dinner and went straight to bed.

Hurt Knee

Ran 5k before the knee hurt. Stopped running at 7k. Streched after the run. No pain. Got new shoes at the running room. Lots of pain while sleeping. Fine next day.

Sushi

Drove (and took two ferries) back to vancouver. Stopped on the way at a market and bought four beautiful pottery mugs. Drove the scenic route into vancouver. Had the best sushi of my life. Walked the downtown beach. Back to the airport. A plesant flight home. No clouds. Great views. The mountains are beautiful and amazing.

Cliff Jumping

Just Bruce and I today. Out to a small river. Did some cliff jumping. Got it on video. Cut my foot on a shard of glass. Snorkeling in the freezing cold river. Warmed up in the sun and gorged on blackberries. Saw a hatchery. Went to the sea walk downtown. Went to a fish&game shop. Met a cool guy with a snakeskin long bow and coonskin quiver. Fired a crossbow. Went out the a native reservation. Went to the ocean and ate raw oysters. Back home. Nap. Party. Met lots of great people. A scotsman named Andy told us very entertaining stories. After the party packed for the trip home

The Ocean

Early start. Calm ocean today. Set the crab trap. Some fishing. Over to a little seal island. Also sea lions and an eagle. Over to a small cave. Over to a bigger cave. Found a paddle. Out to Lund for lunch. Fish and chips. Delicious. Through the Copland islands. Very beautiful. Had a nap. Pulled the crab trap but only had one crab. More fishing. Long day. Good stories throughout. Home. Crab and steak for dinner.

Inland Lake

Late start. Rented kayaks. The four of us kayaked up Inland lake. Nice warm day. Stopped at a little island at the far end. Swam. Snacked. Climed a huge bolder (risky). Napped and swam some more. Kayak home and nice dinner. Bacon cheese burgers.

Powell Lake

Early start. Tried the ocean but it was way too rough. Went down Powell lake instead. Quite cold, and the mountains were obscured by clouds. Got to the end of the lake and the clouds cleared. Bruce fished. Amanda and I started a driftwood fire on the beach. Ate jared fish and cheese bread from Coombs. Very delicious. There was a huge old stump that I climed. Backin the the boat and back down the lake. Amazing views. Took a small channel to a small lake. More fishing. In the small channel there was a sand cave that we checked out. Neat, but probably risky. Boat home. Great views. I stood on the hard top roof of the boat. Kind of like flying. Long day. Good stories throughout. Got the boat on the trailer and picked black berries. Great dinner. Played Cribbage with Tracy.

Coombs

Early start. Breakfast at Olive Ole's. Burito and muffin. Very good. Drove to Englishman Falls. Put a dollar in the ground. Amazing. Nice little hike. Drove to Coombs. Goats on the roof. Carved granite statues. Neat place. Amanda had a little fit. I had pie. Drove to The Cathedral Grove. Amazing trees. But a little too touristy. Stopped at a roadside public space. Beautiful lake. Had a snack. Amanda had a nap. Amazing cedar trees. We're always happier in lonely places. Drove to Comox. Got sushi to go. Ate sushi on the ferry. Arrived a Bruce's

Victoria

Biked to the Inner Harbour. Amanda whined. Great downtown. Saw pontoon planes parking next to a hotel. They have great gaming and comic shops. Biked home. Amanda had a fit. Bought sunflowers. Got back, had a snack. Amanda napped. I went walking on the Ocean with Evelyn. Delicious family dinner. Drove Evelyn and Amanda around the city. Narated by Evelyn. Great views. Stoped at an ocean view point and climed over rocks. Also walked the sea wall, and had a veiw of the city at night from a small moutain top. Amanda went to bed. I watched TV with the family, and talked politics with Nansen. A great visit

Vancouver

Woke up early and read a bit while waiting for Amanda. Drove downtown and had breakfast at a place called Steamrollers. Delicious breakfast burito, all steam cooked, even the scrambled eggs. Talked a bit with a construction worker. Drove to the Capillano Suspension bridge. Neat. Expensive. Drove around North Vancouver for a while. Nice houses. Stopped at Lynn headwaters. Amazing, free trails. Hiked up a very challenging path from below 300m to above 500m. Met a neat guy and his wolf-dog. Amanda had a chilly swim in the river before we left. Got to the ferry and lost eachother. The ferry was leaving, but the re-opened the gates to let me drive on. Amanda was already on board. I was mad. Beautiful ride. Ariived in Victoria and took Shameus to Boston Pizza. Tired night.

Lucille's

Great plane ride. There were individual TVs in the seats with free movies. But it was cloudy, so we didn't get good views of the mountains. Quite tired when we arrived. Drove to Lucille's then walked to a Thai? food place. Yum. Slept well.

Entrust Reandy BBQ

A total failure.
No one came.
Not even Amanda.
Well, I'm lying. Danielle Mortimer stoped by for a few minutes on her way home.

Hurt Knee

After the 5k race on Aug. 12th, I noticed when going to sleep that night that the right side of my right knee hurt a little. I was busy and didn't run again until today. Into the first kilometer of today's run the knee started to hurt again - worse then before. I ran 8k and walked back to work. When I run with a limp, it doesn't hurt but proper running hurts it. After the run, it hurt quite a bit while walking back. The pain is like a nail through the front right of the knee. It doesn't hurt when idle. It doesn't hurt in the back. Alan says it's pretty common and that it's probably safe to just ignore it.

Packing Disaster

I got home from work, and Amanda had torn the house apart. Very unsettling.

But she also had Chris & Angie over for a dinner party. That was nice.

Observatory

Good weekend at home. Got family photo framed for mom. Got wratchet straps for dad and went Kayaking. Picked apples with Leo. Had chili for lunch and shepard's pie for dinner. And apple pie. Went to the Grandview Observatory at night. Saw a ring nebula and Jupiter, and lots of cool stuff. The astronomer there (Thomas) was very well spoken and gave a great presentation.

Andy's Lunch

Andy Gullins is leaving for Cuba. We had a farewall lunch for him.

Amanda Comes Home

Amanda has been in Chicago all week. Her plane showed as "In Customs" for a full hour after arrival. So finally I gave up and checked the internet. It only took 5 mins, but when I got back she was there waiting for me. Missed again...

Race Day

Tim Bramble -- 21:27
Chris Wood -- 22:56
Mike Brownlie -- 22:58
Mike Holtstrom -- 23:00

Olympic record time was; 13:05.59 by Saïd AOUITA in LA in 1984

Visit

Some old friends of Amanda's parents stopped by for a late-night visit. Neat people. Very well traveled.

Lost EvilGoblin.com

I guess I just let it expire. I was sure that I had renewed the registration. That really sucks.

Kayak & Cottage

Worked on the kayak.
Went for a swim.
Washed the windows at the cottage.

Work

Went to graveyards. Worked on the basement. Fixed the walkway. After dinner, drove back to Bobcageon.

Walk

Set up the screen house. Had lunch. Played some pool with dad. Had a nap. Went for a walk. Had dinner. Played cards with Leo. Watched Nationa Treasure.

Lost Mohawk

Had it for 40 days and 40 nights.
Best one ever.

Brad Eyre

It started raining at six. Hard, heavy rain. Both Amanda and I were caught in it. We had salad (blue cheese, grapes, walnuts) and pancakes (chocolate, blueberries, blackberries) for dinner.

Then we phoned Brad Eyre, who will make a special painting for us. He's nice guy, and we're very happy about it.

Canoe

Slept in. Bought roof racks for dad. Installed them. All four of us went for a walk. Had dinner with Leo. Dad and I took the blue canoe to longs lake (via the new roof racks). It was beautiful day, and no one was on the lake. We paddled around the far end, and saw a beaver. We tried to follow him, but he slapped the water and disapeared (twice). Back home we played some rook. Before bed, Amanda and I watched a movie.

First Flight

We arrived at noon and hand lunch. Later mom and dad and I went to the church because mom needed to set up some stuff for the genealogilcal society. And dad and I had our first successful helicopter flight. Also Amanda picked up alex from work and took her shopping. After dinner and several games of pool, we played clue and watched a movie. P.S. the bugs were insane.

Ottawa Adventure

Bacon and eggs on croissant for breakfast. Then Tyner and I biked to Entrust. Then hiked in the woods. Saw some Deer. Then hung out in Entrust for a while. Then biked home, and had some sandwiches. Then drove Amanda to town, and checked out the old Union Station (Doors Open Ottawa), and went up the Parliment Peace tower. Then met Amanda and went to Trailhead. Then went home and swimming. Then Cynthia arrived, and we had dinner, and they left. Very good day.

Doors Open Ottawa

We went to the Britannia water treatment facility, and to the experimental farm for Doors Open Ottawa. Then we went to Art in the Park in the Glebe where we found a great painter and I bought a purple painting. Cynthia also interviewed me for one of her videos. Then we went home and for a swim. Chris & Angie and Cynthia's brother Tom came over and we had a BBQ dinner party, and cake for Tom's birthday. Then we played werewolf until very late. Lots of fun.

Home

Delivered Mother's day gifts.
Helped dad chainsaw trees.
Moved old boat on rollers.
Walked with mom.
Fixed Helicopter.
Went to going away party at church.
Family Dinner.
Watched Amazing Grace.

Long Walk

Walked along the canal from Dow's Lake to Downtown and back. Beautiful day.

St. Patrick's Day

Had a fantastic evening. After work, Chris dropped me off at the downtown OpenText office, and Amanda and I went to D'arcy McGees at Sparks and Elgin to celebrate with Mike & Miriam & co. Had lots of fun. Met a programmer named Calvin, and a teacher who's big into Merino wool, and met Dave again from the Pixley canoe trip. Afterwards, spent a long time walking around town, eating fast food and sobering up. Woke up barely able to stand because of all the squats and lunges during Core earlier in the day.

Blog

Moved over the blog from Aggressive Software today.

Walk In Kanata

Beautiful weather. Went for a two hour hike around the Kanata trails with Roland. Then went home and had a big fuss with Amanda's Grandmother on the telephone. Then Chris & Angie came over and showed us their new house. Then we had a fantastic dinner and played cards and stuff. A good day.

Lost Boys

I left work early on Thursday and drove down to Kingston, where I picked up Lenko and take-out from Curry Village. We went to Karen's house and had dinner there with her and Ethan. Then we went back to Lenko's house, and walked to the Brew Pub with two of his house-mates and Tyner & Cynthia. That was lots of fun.

The next morning, I drove to Toronto and met Amanda at her Grandparent's house. After lunch and a nap, Amanda went to meet Suzanne, and I drove to Gennum to meet Barrow. He showed me around his work, then we went back to his place, and had dinner at a near-by pub called The Poacher (excellent place). After that we drove downtown to Paul's and had some Guinness. Around midnight, the three of us waked a few blocks to a bar where there was a Sci-03 get together. I saw Mark and Matt and Andrew Mason and others. After last-call we stopped by Spencer and Corin's to say hi before going home and to bed (5am). The next morning, we got up early (9am) and drove around Hamilton and then to Niagara Falls. We had lunch as some wooden oven pizza joint. When we got back to Burlington, I played some xbox before heading back to Toronto to meet Amanda and Amardeep.

Deep and Amanda and I had dinner at a nearby Portugese place. I had a grilled fish that was served whole. Then we caught a cab to a nearby pub (that brews its own stout) where we met Nathan and Jig and John Abela and John Mould and others.

Later we caught a cab back to Deep's place with two Quebec guys from his work. We drank Scotch, discussed seperation and watched Dr. Strangelove.

In the morning, Amanda made use an amazing Breakfast of yogurt, granola and fruit, then we made the long Journey home.

Back in Kanata, I stopped to buy gas, but just as I was about to start filling, I noticed that the place accross the street was selling for five cents less. So, cancel, cancel, cancel, and accross the street we go. But I'm sorry, that looked very much like fraud, so your Visa is declined. Thank you very much.

Snow & Merge

Monster snowstorm today, and finally a monster merge. And had a good review from Shoubhik. Great day.

Late Night

Worked past midnight. This sucks.

Snow & Puzzles

Went to a lunch-and-learn today about puzzles and paradoxes. Quite interesting. Also, there was another big snowstorm. This is a good winter.

Mt. Everest

Attended a lunch-and-learn today about Mt. Everest base camp. Sounds like a great trip.

Our Vows

Darling Amanda

I love you.
I need you.
Seeing you makes me smile.
You help me find my way to meaning.
In you I find poetry and mystery and humanity and home.
I love how you resist the mundane.
I love all the devilish schemes that you draw me into.
I love your courage, your strength, and your support for my eccentricities.
I promise to provide a foundation of love, support and respect throughout our life together.
You are my home.

Darling Michael

I love you.
I love the order and accountability you bring to my life.
I love how you resist the disorder I bring into your life.
I love your courage, your strength, and your support for my eccentricities.
I'm relying on you for my future, because my darling, I can't imagine a future without you.
I promise to provide a foundation of love, support and respect throughout our life together.

Late Airport

Waited forever for Amanda at the Ottawa Airport. They had a power outage. Her plane was landed and waiting to unload for hours. I fell asleep on a little green couch. Very grouchy.

Car Crash

Saw a car crash today. Busy morning. Voted in the advance poll. Chris, Angie, Amanda and I started out from Ottawa to Kingston for the wedding rehersal. Then the car in front of us filpped over. Crazy. Everyone was okay though.

Wedding Chores

Natalie
Photographer
Flowers
University Club
Paul Bowmen
Greccos
Abbey Manor

Entrust 5k Race

My Time
23:12
8th

Tim's Time
20:11
1st

D&D Plot

goats, milk, cheese, bread, mushrooms, onions, rabbits.

There is a plot against westburn. Note: I forgot the mining operations. Some of the roads must be good. Some of the mines must be secret.

You walk past a farmstead, erily quiet. Later, you are walking along a forest path with steep rocks to one side. Ahead, a man approaches. He looks wounded. "Will you help me? Are you good men?"

listen, spot,hide, bluff, sense motive

It's a trap. He spins a story and attempts to draw them into ambush. His cohorts are nonmagical human mercenaries. They are forigners, criminals from the marsh. They received an augry that at this place on the night of the full moon there would appear someting of immense value. They attacked the local farmstead, bound the occupants and waited. When they saw you pass by the house, they thought that you might be carrying what they seek, so the leader ran ahead and wants to lead you back toward the house, into ambush. The thing they seek is actually a child. The woman (visitor to the farmstead) will give birth to a magical child. There is a forest spirit that cycles between life and death, it has been dead for 500 years and can only
become corporeal at certain times. The woman is pregnant. An evil wizard also knows about this. He comes and steals the child away from everyone for the purpose of sacrificing it to gain power from it. The wizard has a mountian lair. The bandits found the location by using a magical lode stone. And they will attack with poisoned arrows.

use-rope, escape artist

1. meet guy
2. suffer ambush
3. bound in house with others
4. wizard overpowers all
5. track wizard
6. defeat wizard and resuce child

oldmother (mother of wiseman, very old)
..wiseman (father of wolfsbane, still hale, wife is dead)
....wolfsbane (hunter/woodcutter, bandits > skull crushed, dead)
....summerwind (wife of wolfsbane, bandits > head wound, unconscious)
......lilly (daughter of summerwind & wolfsbane, bandits > knife slash on arm)
......fastrunner (son of summerwind & wolfsbane)
....able (brother of wolfsband, runs the house, wife is dead)
......survivor (son of able, bandits > bludgoning chest wound, near death)
cynthia (strange guest, she came down from the mountains nine months ago, from shephardholm, pregnant)

Nearby Farm
..Frederick (hunter)
..Simon (fast)

Damoclese
Grot (carries the great-club)
Smithson
Jon

Peter Lake

Evil Wizard (no known name)

Blue Whinnis Poison (a flower)
dc14, fail > 1 con dam
1 min later, fail > unconscious for 1d3 hours

ambush on the forest trail
hide +10
roll initiatives
jon and smithson are up trees with bow and arrow
grot his hidden in a bush and will charge them

Damoclese, Rogue, Level 3, Craft Poison
chr 16 > +3
dex14 > +2
str 12 > +1
bluff ranks 6 > +9
attack with poison: roll 1 > reflex save dc15 or be poisoned
improved initiative > +6
poisoned dagger masterwork +1
hit+2base+1str+1masterwork
dam+1str+1d4+2d6sneak
high quality leather pants and boots
torn, bloodied shirt
masterwork dagger
dagger shaped ceramic poison jar (oiled cork), 2 doses
leather purse 8pp, 36gp, 15sp, 8cp
magic lode stone
backpack?

2nd lvl fighter
str16 > +3
dex12 > +1
masterwork str3 shortbow
hit +3base+1dex
dam+3str+1d6
ac+1dex+4chainshirt

2nd lvl fighter
greatclub
hit+3base+3str
dam+3str+1d10
ac+1dex+6bandedmail

Damoclese runst up to them, tells story, bandits, save family, no modifier
sense motive, spot

also get a sensemotive and spot when first passing the ereily quiet house
15 > that's strange
20 > there is definitly something wrong
25 > see a bandit

when springing trap, rogue turns and stabs one of them (if walking behind, then no saves)
damoclese bluff + 5, if fail then surprised

Jon
masterwork short bow str3 (initialed by elf from nearby town)
chain shirt
long sword, leather scabbard, diamond pattern
average adventurer outfit
high quality oiled cloak
leather purse 32gp, 17sp
quiver, 17 arrows
backpack: bedroll, waterskin, pair of bone dice, chalk, 4 days trail rations, small flute, flint & steel
hunting knife
ceramic arrowhead poison jars plugged with oiled cork x2 (total 5 doses)

Grot
great club
banded mail
average adventurer outfit
high quality boots
leather purse 19gp, 28sp
gauntlets
helmet
backpack: bedroll, 6 days trail rations, exotic skull carvign, 3 waterskins, 3lbs cooked mutton

Smithson
backpack: bedroll, ropes, fryingpan, 2 prong fork, oiled canvas sheet, pot, 3 knives, spices, waterskin, 2 days trail rations.

Engagement Party

with flaming sambuca

Lenko 2007

(BG) Chestita nova godina! Pozelavam vi (na teb, polovinkata
i potomstvoto - koi kakvoto ima) mnogo zdrave, shtastite,
liubov i uspehi! Neka se sbadnat pone malko ot mechtite vi,
no ne vsichkite! Parite da vi stigat, a podaratzite da
pristignat kakto e pokazano v prilozhenata kartinka. Chestito
priemane v evropeiskata obshtnost, evropeitzi!

(CZ) Shtastny novy rok! Hodne zdravy, stesti, lasky a uspechu
do noveho roku - tobe, polovicce a potomkum (kdo co ma)! At se
vam uskutecni aspon trosku snu, ale ne vsechny! At vam penize
staci a at dostavate darky jak je ukazano v dodadenem obrazku.

(EN) Happy new year (Gregorian)! I wish you, your partner and
your descendants (as applicable) good health, happiness, love
and success! May at least some of your dreams come true--but
not all of them! May you have enough money and get presents as
shown in the attached picture. As well, congratulations to the
EU for accepting Bulgaria as of January 1.

(ES) !Feliz ano nuevo! !Mucho salud, felicitad, amor i exito!

-- Lenko

Dates

The wedding has to be on the Autumnal Equinox. There are no other good dates.
The singularity could be on the Spring Equinox or the Summer Solstice, or during a Summer meteor storm.

Spring Equinox (March)

2007 -- 21 -- 00:07
2008 -- 20 -- 05:48
2009 -- 20 -- 11:44
2010 -- 20 -- 17:32
2011 -- 20 -- 23:21
2012 -- 20 -- 05:14
2013 -- 20 -- 11:02
2014 -- 20 -- 16:57

Summer Solstice (June)

2007 -- 21 -- 18:06
2008 -- 20 -- 23:59
2009 -- 21 -- 05:45
2010 -- 21 -- 11:28
2011 -- 21 -- 17:16
2012 -- 20 -- 23:09
2013 -- 21 -- 05:04
2014 -- 21 -- 10:51

Autumnal Equinox (September)

2007 -- 23 -- 09:51
2008 -- 22 -- 15:44
2009 -- 22 -- 21:18
2010 -- 23 -- 03:09
2011 -- 23 -- 09:04
2012 -- 22 -- 14:49
2013 -- 22 -- 20:44
2014 -- 23 -- 02:29

Wedding

http://www.niwaka.com/
http://www.howard.ca/about-ways.html

For invites: http://www.paperpapier.com/

Photos: http://www.darlenearney.com/rates.htm

I like anenmoe flowers
http://www.theflowerexpert.com/
http://www.flowerpossibilities.com/encyclopedia.html

University Club
Watch a video
http://www.queensu.ca/uclub/vtour.shtml

Gullins

So I made it to the Ship! It is crazy hot here, about 100, which is just rediculous when you are used to spending all your time in an air conditioned office. As I had suspected we are doing festival stuff which means that we just sit at port and show visitors the ship. I spent half of yesterday sorting out the shop, and the other half telling people to watch their step, and doing my best to answer their questions about the ship, which mostly includes making stuff up, cause that seems to be a lot more fun.

The first night it was so hot in my bunk that I couldnt even breathe let alone sleep so I slept on the deck, yes, that the hard wood deck, with just my pillow.. Needless to say I wasnt sleeping all that soundly and at about 6 am I thought I heard thunder, but it was lasting several minutes at a time, and then I felt a couple drops so I decided to open my eyes and behind me there was a solid wall of continuous lighting covering the sky. So I woke up the other people on deck and we retired to our hot bunks to sweat. About 10 mins later the storm came in really hard, and I mean REALLY hard, the ship was rocking with no sails up, just bare poles. I heard the crew on watch running around and waking some more crew to help out, and then I things got even crazyer, and they called for all hands on deck. We had a couple tarps and things up and they just cut them away from the ship, and there was wooden stairs to get on the ship that got torn off, and we all scrambled to fix the moorings etc.. There was almost 100 km/h winds, and it was a terrencial downpour. By the time we had the ship under control and looked around we noticed that the entire park had been devastated, and it looked like a tornado had come through. This was mostly because all of the tents were just those cheap aluminum ones that arent that really up to dealing with wind storms. The damage included our shop tent which was torn apart and all of our merchandise was getting wet. Needless to say that the rest of the day was lots of work. After dinner I had a nap instead of going to the party, and then had watch at 3 am...

I have had today off and have spent it napping by the water watching the ships and people hang out. Just went to the YMCA to have a shower and now hangin at the library just to keep cool for a change.

Tmr we leave for Chicago. I cant wait to get sailing, and I cant stand this tour guide crap..

Have fun at work!

bi-plane

You're game for some basic aerobatics, right? Its nothing too severe - just loops and rolls, that sort of thing. Its really not much worse than an amusement park ride with the exception that G's are notably higher. It'll range from -2 to +5 at the very most. That's really not a lot and its not sustained for long. But if you have any chronic back problems or heart conditions its best to give me a heads-up.

A note about safety:

Generally the best types of clothing to wear are cottons. Jeans are ideal. Never wear polyester or stuff with nylon or acrylic fibers.

Jewelry (especially rings) don't mix well with airplanes. Too many things to catch them on. Earrings may be uncomfortable under the helmet (I'm guessing since I have no first hand knowledge).

The temperature of dry air cools 3 degrees per thousand feet. If the cloud base allows for it, we'll go to 4000' above the surface so it could be 12 degrees cooler up there. There is no heater and the front cockpit is open. A sweater or light jacket is good to have in case its slightly cool before takeoff.

The best type of shoes are just basic flat running shoes. You have to climb onto the bottom wing to get in so heels are a really bad idea.

I guess you could sum it up by saying "dress like a boy". Airplanes can be greasy so best not to wear anything that can't take a bit of abuse.

That's about it!